[ voice ]

[hostage]

[No video. Getting to be a habit with him these days, but really... who wants to see him looking like he does right now? Thank him later. If he sounded bad before, he sounds much worse now. The way someone would sound when they've spent a week vomiting. That's why he keeps the message relatively short and sweet.]

I tested the, um... the verstatsi. The U.E.'s drug.

In case the obvious needed stating: don't try it.

Full report coming once I can get my ass outta bed, but I can tell you it's about half-opiate, half-synthetic. The comedown's a total bitch and I ain't just talking like regular use. I mean like one shot and you're gonna need another fix in a few hours unless you like spending the next few days worshiping the porcelain god. Seriously, I'm a professional and this stuff... is bad. I don't think we got a lotta samples around here but take my word for it and don't mess around with it. I done H. This is worse than H. Way worse.

So that's your little P.S.A. and don't roll your eyes 'cause this ain't some D.A.R.E. bullshit, yo. I'm serious.

Comments

[hostage]

You think I'm a liar now?

[whatsupcroc]

I think you might say things to get people to not worry.

[hostage]

I'm not.

[whatsupcroc]

Pinky promise?

( It's such a childish means of asking for reassurance. )

[hostage]

Pinky promise.

[whatsupcroc]

Thank you. Um... hey, are you doing cookies again this May?

[hostage]

Maybe. Um...

[whatsupcroc]

I think it'd be really good if you did. At least helped to... do something with it, if you're feeling better by the end of the month.

[hostage]

I'm just thinking, you know... Maybe I shouldn't be out there.

[whatsupcroc]

Why not? Sure, you do stupid things, but it's not like you've got some kind of highly contagious disease and you're walking into the cancer ward or something.

[hostage]

It's a lotta people.

[whatsupcroc]

You can handle them.

[hostage]

Maybe.

[whatsupcroc]

That's half better than a no, but the only way to know what's maybe yes, versus maybe no, is to try! Who's dumb enough to hold back on trying something that's good for a lot of people because of a maybe no?

[hostage]

Everybody did okay without me last time.

[whatsupcroc]

We did okay for you, but it was a stand in 'cause you couldn't be there, not an excuse to start a habit!

[hostage]

I'm just saying... like, it'll get done. If I'm not there.

[whatsupcroc]

That's so not the point. It isn't the same if you're not there. You matter for this! It's important to have you around, okay?

[hostage]

...Yeah.

[whatsupcroc]

Promise you'll do it?

[hostage]

If it means that much to you.

[whatsupcroc]

It does! I mean, I might be camping at the time with a few friends, but I'll be expecting to hear about how it went from the new